Selective signaling system.



J. B. HARLOW.

SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 19M.

1,291,861. Patented Jan. 21,-1919.

JOHN B. HARLOW, OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. llaarow,

a citizen of the United States, residing at This invention relates to selectively con-- trolled signaling systems, and fmore particularly to systems in which signalsoperated over one energizing circuit are controlled in their operation over an auxiliary signaling circuit.

The object of this invention in general is to provide means whereby all. of the sigmile of a system may be moved from a safety indicating position into a danger indicating position in case of any failure of the auxiliary circuit over which the operation of said signals is controlled.

In accordance with the general features of this invention the circuit for each signal is controlled at two points, one point being controlled by the selective apparatus in its normal operation, the other point being controlled by means of a retarded circuit controlling device which is automatically controlled over the auxiliary circuit independcntly of the selectively operated apparatus. In'the specific embodiment of the invention shown there is provided an electromagnet individual to each signal, which electromagnet is intermittently energized from the sending station of the signal controlling circuit and which is provided with retarding means for preventing the armature reaching a position to control its break point until after the expiration of a time period longer in duration than the period between two successive closures of the auxiliary circuit.

In the drawings: I a

Figure 1 is a diagram of apparatus and connections illustrating one form of the invention; and Fig.2 is a detail view of a retarding mechanism of a controlling magnet which may be employed in practising this invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, 5 and 6 designate the rails of a railway track by the side of which and at separated points are located semaphore signals 7 and 8. Each of the signals Specification of Letters Iatent."

SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application filed May 25, 1917. Serial No. 170,821.

7 and 8 is included in a normally closed circuit, each circuit including two normally closed contacts 9 and 10, and a source of current 11. l Vhile a source of current 11 is shown for each of the signals 7 and 8, it is obvious that a single source would sufiice.

Each of the normally closed contacts 9- of the energizing circuits is controlled directly by a rotatable switch 13, which, in turn, is controlled by a selectively operated circuit controlling device 14, located at what may be termed for convenience stations B and C, and controlled over wires 15 and 16 from a main or sending station A. Each of the selectively operated devices is of a wellknown form, and comprises generally a step-by-step circuit closing adapted to close with a stationary contact member 18. The operation of the step-bystep element is under control of a quickacting stepping magnet 20and a slow release holding magnet 21, both of which are connected in series with each other in a bridge of the circuit including the Wires 15 and 1,6. The holding magnet 21, when energized, controls a holding pawl 22, which serves to hold the step-bystep element 17 in the position to which it is advanced by a pawl 2 operated by thestepping magnet 20. The selectively operated devices 14, 14 operate in response to current impulses from the main or sending station A, at which there is located an impulse transmitting device 25 adapted to intern'iittently close the circuit of an impulse relay 26, which connects a source of current 27 with the line wires 15 and 16. The selectively operated devices at the stationsB and C are each adjusted to close circuit with the stationary contact member 18 in response to a different number of impulses from station-A. The engagement of the circuit closing element 17, of either of the selectively controlled devices, with its cooperating stationary contact member 18 will complete a circuit for a magnet 28 associated therewith, the energizationv of said magnet causing a one step movement ofthe rotatable switch 13 of that station, which will open the contact 9 and'cause the signal associated therewith to move to a danger indicating position. The contact 9 may-be again. closed to restore the signal to its energized or safety element 17, p

indicating position by a subsequent opera tion of the same selector, which was operated to cause it to move to a danger indi cating position, the subsequent operation of the selector again causing the operation of the magnet to move the switch 13 another step and close the circuit at the contact 9. The opening of the contact of each of the signals controlled throng-"i the agency of an electromagnet 80 having; an armature 31 to which is attached a mechanical retarding means. This retarding means comprises, in general, a fan governor 32 connected through a chain of gears comprising a pinion 33, a gear 34, a pinion 35, and. a gear 36, and a pawl 37 with the armature 31. The pawl T engages the teeth of the gear 36 to rotate '1 one direction in response to the pull spring 38 and the force of gravity actino upon said armature. In the movement 0 the'armature 81, in response to a currentimpulse through the winding of the electromagnct 30, the pawl 3'? will ride over the teeth of the gear wheel 36. An arm 40, carried by armature 31, is adapted, after the armature 31 has traveled a certain distance, to engage and open the contact 10. A continuously niovingcircuit closing device 45, located at the main or sending station A, is adapted. to intermittently close a circuit for the impulse which will operate the stepping magnet of the selector at station E to close circuit for the maghet at tl at station, or relay at the station C for closing an energizing circuit for the magnet 30 at-that station. The circuit for the magnet 30 at station B will be from the source of current 11, over conductor 4C7, conductor 48, through contact 49 controlled by the armature or" the stepping magnet 20, over conductor 50 and through the winding of magnet 80 to ground.

The circuit of the magnet 30 atstation (3 will he. from the source 11 at that station, over conductor 51, through contact 52 of the relay 46, over conductor 53 and through the winding of electroniagnet 30 at that station to ground. The length of time elapsing be tween successive closures of the line circuit by the operation of the circuit closing device so will be less than the time raqulred for the armature 31. to move from. its energized position to a position where it will open the contact 10, thereby insuring that the signals 7 and 8 will he maintained in a safety indieating position unless operated in response to-the selectively operated devices or unless there is some trouble on the circuit includin the line wires 15 and 3.6, which will prevent the transmission of the impulses in response to the operation of the circuit closer 45.

A stop member is provided for limiting the movement of the armature 31 in response to current impulses through the magnet 30, thereby preventing said armature losing moved more than a definite distance in reincisor spouse to a series of rapidly recurring impulses, which are sent in operating the selectively operated devices.

A relay 61 included in circuit with the im-, pulse transmitting device 25 is energized during, the operation of the device 25 to disable the circuit oi the continuously rotating circuit closing device 45 during the operation of the selectively operated devices.

VVhat is claimed is: y

1. In a selectively controlled signaling system for railways, a'plurality of electrically controlled signals normally standing in a safety position, a circuit over which said signals are controlled, selectively operated circuit controlling devices for controlling movement of any of said signals from a safety to a danger position, an auxiliary circuit over which said selective circuit controlling devices areoperated, and means controlled over said auxiliary circuit for causing the movement of all of said signals from safety to danger position in case of failure of said auxiliary circuit.

2. In a selectively controlled signaling system for railways, a plurality of electrically controlled signals, a normally closed energizing circuit for maintaining said signals in a safety indicating position, selectively operated circuit controllin devices for-controlling the operation of said signals, an

auxiliary circuit over which the selectively operated clrcult controllm r devlces are operated and means associate wlth each of said signals and controlled over said auxiliary circuit for opening the energizing circuit of said signals in caseof failure of said auxiliary circuit. r

3. In a selectively controlled signaling systern for railways, a plurality of electrically controlled signals, a normally closed energizing ircuit for maintaining said signals in a. safety indicating position, two normally closed break points in the circuit of each of said signals, selectively controlled apparatus for opening one of said breakpoints, an auxiliary circuit over which said selectively controlled apparatus is operated, retarded operating means associated with each of said signals for controlling the other of said break points, and means controlled over said auX- iliary circuit for maintaining said second break point closed in the normal condition of said auxiliary circuit.

4-. lln a selectively controlled signaling system, a plurality of electrically controlled signals, a normally closed energizing circuit for maintaining said signals in a safety indicating position, two sets of normally closed contacts in the circuit of each of said signals, selectively operated devices for. controlling the opening and closure of one of said sets of contacts, an auxiliary circuit over which said selective devices are controlled, an elec trpmagnet associated with each of said Sig n'als,' an'farm'ature for said electromagnet terdingmeens associa tedwith said armature i ibh venting its opening said second set of P, s 1 u I I onta'ctsunnl. after the explratlon of a prea determinedtime, and means for energizing 'said' electromagnet at regular tlme intervals by impulses over said auxiliary circuit, the period of time between said impulses being 10 less than the time required by said retarded armature to move to a position to open said. second set of contacts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of May, A. D., 1917.. 15

JOHN B. HARLOW.. 

